In this Northern Highlight, we interview Rachel Bevan Baker, an illustrator based in Fortrose on the Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. She talks to us a bit about the animated film "A Bear Named Wojtek", which she art directed. Link in bio for full interview 📚

For our September CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Cuppa Lead Bethany Sparks has chosen The Line They Drew Between us by Hiba Noor Khan and published by Andersen Press. Link in bio for full review 📚 @andersenpress.bsky.social

In this Northern Highlight, we interview William Potter, an author based in Leeds. He talks to us a bit about How To Catch Lightning, the sixth and final volume in the Professor Katz Amazing Facts books that he has been working on. Link in bio for full interview 📚 @williampotter.com

CBNN Reveals Tender, powerful, and thought-provoking, this novel explores grief, resilience, and the legacy of enslavement – timely and essential themes for young readers finding their own place in the world. Publishing on 25th September 2025 by @zuntold.bsky.social Cover Design by squgcreative

In this week’s Northern Highlight, we speak with Penny. She is an Illustrator based in Barnsley and talks about her latest project, The Floofs Brave the Wild, which is out September 2025. Link in bio 📚

Bursary tickets available for the Illustration Workshop with Dapo Adeola at Durham Book Festival 📚 newwritingnorth.com/event/picture-… @newwritingnorth.bsky.social

CBNN’s Bookshop of the Month for September is Truman Books based in Farsley, West Leeds. They run their own annual lit fest. Their chosen book of the month is We Are All Inventors! by Kate Pankhurst. Link in bio for full interview 📚 @trumanbooks.bsky.social @kateisdrawing.bsky.social

🎉 New members announcement 🎉 We are delighted to welcome four new members to CBNN. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to: Lisa Allen, Corinne Lucas, Saira Shah, and Rik Worth! We are so excited to have you all on board 📚

In this week’s Guest Northern Highlight, we speak with Isabelle Kenyon of Fly on the Wall Press. Isabelle founded the Northern Publishers’ Fair in 2019 to help decentralise the publishing industry from London and to showcase northern talent. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Not long until the MA Degree show at University of Central Lancashire; a brilliant event showcasing the work of students from the MA Children’s Book Illustration course 📚

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Catherine Booth, an illustrator based in Manchester. Catherine co-hosts Drawn In, Manchester’s meet-up for illustrators. Link in bio for full interview 📚

For our August CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Blogger Extraordinaire Isobel Dixon has chosen Annabelle and Flower by Em Lynas and Anuska Allepuz. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Meet the Illustrator with Sarah Ogilvie ✏️ 🗓️ Saturday 11th October 2025 🕙 4:30 - 5:30pm 📍 Gala Durham 🎟️ £10/£9 (Live-stream £5) please book following the link in our bio. #DBF25 #CBNNPrize #CBNNPrizeRoadshow

Picture Book Illustration Workshop with Dapo Adeola at Durham Book Festival ✏️ 🗓️ Saturday 10th October 2025 🕙 12:00 - 13:30pm 📍 Clayport Library, Durham 🎟️ £15/£12, please book following the link in our bio. #DBF25 #CBNNPrize #CBNNPrizeRoadshow @newwritingnorth.bsky.social

Meet the mentees! A record seventeen aspiring publishers are undergoing bespoke mentoring from an industry professional as part of the CBNN Mentor Scheme 2025. Choosing just seventeen mentees from such an incredible range of applications was no easy task, but we just about managed it! 📚

1-1 Illustration Portfolio Reviews at Durham Book Festival 🎨 🗓️ Saturday 10th October 2025 🕙 10:00 - 11:30am 📍 Clayport Library, Durham 🎟️ Limited free spots available, please book following the link in our bio. #DBF25 #CBNNPrize #CBNNPrizeRoadshow

The Children's Book North Network Prize is hitting the road! First stop, Durham Book Fest! 🛣️🚗 Join us on Saturday 10th October for a fantastic line up of events for children's book illustrators, including portfolio reviews and workshops. Keep your eye on our socials this week for more details!

CBNN’s Bookshop of the Month for August is The Reader based in Calderstones Park, Liverpool, who tell us about their Book of the Month, The Dawn of Adonis by Phil Earle. Link in bio for full interview 📚 @philearle.bsky.social

Erin is from Teesside and she is graduating from Newcastle University this summer with a degree in English Literature and History. Erin has been doing work experience with CBNN, and tells us all about it in this week’s Guest Northern Highlight. Link in bio for full interview 📚

In today’s Guest Northern Highlight, we interview Ruby Allen-Cadman. Ruby discusses her relaunch of To Be Read, which is an initiative and service supporting unpublished and self-published authors whilst also working with literary agencies and publishers. Link in bio 📚

It’s almost time for another year of Durham Book Festival, and to tide you over until the full programme is released in August, we’ve got five events open for booking right now! All happening at Gala Durham and livestreamed. Find out more and book tickets: newwritingnorth.com/durham-book-...

CBNN’s Bookshop of the Month for July is Serenity Booksellers, based in Romiley with a second location in Stockport, who tell us about their Book of the Month, The Blockbusters! By Frank Cottrell-Boyce. Link in bio for full interview 📚

🥳 New members announcement 🥳 We’re delighted to announce four new members to CBNN, please join us in welcoming Hannah Tolson, Nazli Brennan, Natasha Holmes, and Jim Taylor! We’re so excited to have you all on board 📚

In this week’s Northern Highlight, we speak with Stuart. He is the founder of Rockpool Children’s Books, and develops diverse and well-designed children’s books in all formats and for all ages. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Welcoming our new Blogger Isobel Dixon to the CBNN committee! Isobel is completing her MA in Publishing. She volunteers with SYP North and writes her own blog. Since becoming an auntie and godmother, Isobel’s love for children’s books has increased 📚

Welcoming our new Designer Abby Haddad to the CBNN committee! Abby is a freelance children’s book designer with a background in novelty publishing. Formerly at Campbell Books, she has worked on a range of titles for young readers 📚

Welcoming our new Prize Champion Katie Siddall to the CBNN committee! Katie was a 2024 CBNN mentee and has a strong passion for breaking into children’s publishing 📚

The CBNN Prize is in partnership with New Writing North and is funded by Arts Council England and Manchester Metropolitan University. We are hosting illustration roadshows at Grimm & Co, The Reader and Durham Book Festival, and the award ceremony will be held at Seven Stories 📚

This week we interview publishing professional Beatrice Cross, who has just joined CBNN as the new Co-Lead alongside Emma Layfield. Based in Stockport, Bea is a freelance publicist. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Come and join us after NYA Lit Fest on Saturday 19th July! There will be welcome drinks provided and a chance to meet other Children’s Books North Network members, to talk all things publishing! We look forward to seeing you there 🥳📚

We are delighted to announce our new CBNN co-lead Beatrice Cross who’ll be leading the network forwards with Emma Layfield 🥳📚

Well, naturally :) @cbnnetwork.bsky.social and other organisations champion writing and publishing in the north - but our readers up here are already a keen bunch :) #WritingLife #Reading #Books

We're delighted to introduce the judges for the CBNN Prize! Illustrators @lydiamonks.bsky.social and @dapsdraws.bsky.social, Ness Woods (Orange Beak Studio co-founder) and Emma Layfield (Children’s Books North Network Director) who are all based in the North. #CBNNPrize #CBNN

We're thrilled to announce the launch of the CBNN Prize 🎉 In partnership with New Writing North and funded by Arts Council England and Man Met Uni the prize is the first for aspiring picture book writers and illustrators based in the North of England 📚 www.thebookseller.com/news/childre...

We have some BIG news to share tomorrow! Stayed tuned... #CBNN #Announcement #AllWillBeRevealed #ComingSoon

Next week at @waterstonesfortk.bsky.social Edinburgh! This event is free but you do need a ticket to attend - please book a place on the Waterstones website! 💛🤍💜🖤 www.waterstones.com/events/an-ev...

Festival of Stories at the wonderful Grimm & Co. In Rotherham w/ @cbnnetwork.bsky.social

Children’s Books North Network are super excited to be at Grimm&Co today for the amazing Festival of Stories event! We will be hosting a range of author and illustrator workshops and panels with some of our amazing members 🙌🏻 We are excited to see you there 📚🩷 @grimmandco.bsky.social

🥳 New members announcement 🥳 We are delighted to announce four new brilliant members to the Children’s Books North Network. Please join us in welcoming Catherine Booth, Sarah Andrews, Rachael Sligo, and Mike Edwards. We are excited to have you all on board 📚

Very exciting news for our CBNN members Alan Windram and Susan Windram 🥳 Little Door Books: the Scottish independent publisher looks to new horizons - Little Door Books’ founders Alan and Susan Windram reflect on how the business has grown and share plans for their new imprint 📚

Free event this weekend! Don’t miss the Children’s Books North Network Takeover at @grimmandco.bsky.social this Saturday, part of the exciting #FestivalofStories! A full day of free workshops and talks awaits young readers of all ages 📚 🎟️ Secure your free tickets now via the link in bio!

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories

📢 NEW: Our #ReadingRights report with Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate @frankcottrellboyce.bsky.social is out now! It shares 5 focus areas that will turn the tide on reading inequality and unveils plans for our City of Stories place-based pilot: www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/rea...

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories 🎨 Fantastically great @kateisdrawing.bsky.social will be hosting a picture book storytelling and illustration session for curious kids aged 5-8 years.

Explore the impact of the expansion of AI in the Publishing Industry. We will be asking a panel of publishers, authors and librarians to reflect on the pace of change in the sector, and where they see opportunities emerging for their work. 📅 16 June, 3-5pm 🎟️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/creativity...

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories

💡 Children’s Books North Network are taking over the magical @grimmandco.bsky.social on 31st May as part of their incredible #FestivalofStories ✍️ If you want to be an author, poet, writer or creator of brilliant stories, this panel is the one for you.